Recaps

Huang Xiao learned from Liaochen that the Taixuan Sect had secretly manipulated the Jianghu and that the Six Sects were preparing to challenge Shaolin’s influence. They hurried to Shaolin to warn the temple, where Liaochen’s bloodstained robes immediately drew the young monks’ attention.

• Huang Xiao and Liaochen discussed how the Taixuan Sect had used the Eight Sects to destroy the Heavenly Demon Sect and continued to influence the Jianghu through other sects.
• Liaochen explained that the Six Sects resented Shaolin’s rise during their long withdrawal and had attacked him to undermine Shaolin’s prestige before returning to the Jianghu.
• Liaochen described the Six Sects’ Buddhist scriptures and cultivation traditions, while Huang Xiao argued that Shaolin’s larger numbers and long development gave it reason not to fear them excessively.
• Huang Xiao and Liaochen set out for Shaolin so Liaochen could warn the abbot, then agreed to visit the temple when they reached Shaoshi Mountain.
• After Huang Xiao and Liaochen arrived at Shaolin, the young monks noticed Liaochen’s torn, bloodstained robes and wondered how he had been injured.

Huang Xiao returned to Shaolin Temple with Liaochen and listened as Liaochen reported the Six Buddhist Sects’ challenge to Masters Kongming and Kongcheng. The masters prepared to consult the abbot, while Huang Xiao noticed that Kongming had advanced to the upper peerless realm.

• Huang Xiao and Liaochen crossed the hill to Shaolin’s rear hall, where Liaoping hurried them to see Master Kongming after hearing Liaochen had been injured and pursued.
• Huang Xiao joined Liaochen’s meeting with Masters Kongming and Kongcheng, and Liaochen recounted what had happened with the Six Buddhist Sects.
• Master Kongcheng left to report the matter to the abbot, while Master Kongming warned that the united sects could pose a serious threat to Shaolin.
• Huang Xiao praised Liaochen’s fighting ability and noticed that Master Kongming had recently advanced in cultivation.
• Master Kongming credited his breakthrough to insights from the battle in Xiazhou and a month of secluded practice, and Huang Xiao judged that he had reached upper peerless strength.

At Shaolin, Huang Xiao told Master Kongming and Liaochen that he needed a Six Gates Retainer position to investigate his missing Eldest Senior Brother, but feared the emperor would block him. Master Kongming offered to gather support and decided to travel with Huang Xiao to Kaifeng the next morning, where he was already due to relieve another Shaolin Retainer.

• Master Kongming invited Huang Xiao to stay at Shaolin, but Huang Xiao said he needed to leave for Kaifeng because his Eldest Senior Brother had disappeared.
• Master Kongming promised to ask Shaolin disciples to gather information about the Six Sects and Huang Xiao's affairs.
• Huang Xiao explained that he wanted a Retainer position so he could use the Six Gates' intelligence network to search for his senior brother, and admitted he had probably angered the emperor.
• Liaochen suggested that Master Kongming propose Huang Xiao for the position, since the emperor could not openly give the real reason for opposing him; Master Kongming agreed to seek support from his old friends.
• Master Kongming said he would accompany Huang Xiao to Kaifeng the next morning to relieve a fellow Shaolin Retainer, and invited Huang Xiao and Liaochen to tour the area.

Huang Xiao returned to Kaifeng and learned that Zhao Yunya would soon step down as the Yellow Gate’s Arrest Sage amid pressure from Huang Qitao’s faction. Zhao offered to use her remaining authority to investigate Huang Xiao’s senior brother’s whereabouts and hinted that Huang Xiao might know her successor, leading him to guess Tuoba Xing.

• Huang Xiao and Master Kongming rode from Shaolin to Kaifeng and went to the Six Gates headquarters.
• Huang Xiao learned that his assignment protecting the Princess counted only as half-completed, so Zhao Yunya could not grant him the Retainer position he wanted.
• Zhao Yunya said she would leave the Arrest Sage post in three days and offered to order an investigation into Huang Xiao’s eldest senior brother while she still held authority.
• Zhao Yunya explained that Huang Qitao’s faction was forcing her and other opponents out of the Six Gates, with the next Yellow Gate Arrest Sage likely to come from his faction.
• Zhao Yunya hinted that Huang Xiao might be a candidate for the position, and Huang Xiao guessed that she meant Tuoba Xing.

Zhao Yunya told Huang Xiao that Tuoba Xing was the leading candidate for Arrest Sage, but Huang Xiao could challenge him and gain greater authority to search for his Eldest Senior Brother. Confident in his strength, Huang Xiao left to find Du Ge and learn what had happened in the Six Gates.

• Zhao Yunya explained that Huang Qitao had used the Lin'an Tuoba Family's influence to set up Tuoba Xing as a candidate for Arrest Sage, while senior Retainers and many younger rivals were barred or restrained from competing.
• Zhao Yunya urged Huang Xiao to compete, noting that Poison God Valley had not been drawn into the sects' arrangements and that the position could help him search for his Eldest Senior Brother.
• Huang Xiao agreed to give his all and told Zhao Yunya he could contend with opponents at mid peerless and fight someone at upper peerless if he risked his life.
• Zhao Yunya went to the palace to report Huang Xiao's strength, while Huang Xiao left in high spirits and resolved to defeat Tuoba Xing.
• Huang Xiao asked a First-Class Constable where Du Ge was, learned he was at home, and hurried to his residence.

Zhao Yunya told Zhao Guangyi that Huang Xiao could contend with Tuoba Xing for the position of Arrest Sage, giving the emperor hope of countering Huang Qitao’s faction. Zhao Guangyi ordered Dragon Guards to protect Huang Xiao, while Zhao Yunya visited Zhao Yunhui, who sensed that something good had happened.

• Zhao Guangyi told Wang Jin that Huang Xiao’s martial prowess had improved enough to challenge Tuoba Xing for the position of Arrest Sage.
• Zhao Guangyi ordered Dragon Guards to guard Huang Xiao in secret and hoped he would win the position in three days.
• Zhao Yunya visited Zhao Yunhui and urged her not to risk her life again after her escape from the Remnant Demon Sect.
• Zhao Yunhui noticed Zhao Yunya’s unusually happy mood and asked what had happened.

Zhao Yunhui discussed Huang Xiao’s strength and the Arrest Sage contest with Zhao Yunya, while Huang Xiao told Du Ge he intended to challenge Tuoba Xing for the position. Their conversation was interrupted when Master Kongming arrived to speak privately with Huang Xiao.

• Zhao Yunya told Zhao Yunhui that Tuoba Xing’s recent improvement made the Arrest Sage contest uncertain, but Zhao Yunhui said she trusted Huang Xiao to defeat him.
• Lü Ling reported that Zhao Xin'er had left the palace, and Zhao Yunhui invited Zhao Yunya to walk with her in the Imperial Garden.
• Huang Xiao visited Du Ge, who praised his survival and asked about the Jade-Faced Rakshasa and the Seven Spirit Blades.
• Du Ge explained that Yellow Gate constables opposed Tuoba Xing, and Huang Xiao declared that he would compete for the Arrest Sage position and would not let Tuoba Xing win.
• Master Kongming of Shaolin Temple arrived at Du Ge’s residence, and Huang Xiao recognized that the monk had come to speak with him.

Huang Xiao learned that he could not obtain a retainer position and prepared to compete for the Yellow Gate’s Arrest Sage post, while meeting Zhao Xin'er privately at a restaurant. As Zhao Xin'er prepared to return to the palace, Huang Xiao overheard people next door congratulating Tuoba Xing as the future Arrest Sage.

• Master Kongming told Huang Xiao that his efforts to secure a retainer position had failed, but encouraged him to pursue the Arrest Sage post against Tuoba Xing.
• Huang Xiao left Du Ge's residence and went to a restaurant where Zhao Xin'er had arranged to meet him.
• Zhao Xin'er embraced Huang Xiao, promised to keep his cultivation method secret, and urged him to be cautious about Tuoba Xing.
• Huang Xiao and Zhao Xin'er shared food and wine before she prepared to return to the palace.
• Huang Xiao heard people in the neighboring room proclaiming that Tuoba Xing would win the Arrest Sage position.

Huang Xiao confronted Tuoba Xing and his retainers over Tuoba Xing’s bid to become Arrest Sage, mocking their claims and rejecting the Six Gates hierarchy. The retainers tried to prove their loyalty to Tuoba Xing, and the confrontation remained unresolved.

• Huang Xiao overheard Tuoba Xing confidently discussing his bid for the position of Arrest Sage and went to approach him.
• Huang Xiao questioned a first-class constable about who was qualified to become Arrest Sage, prompting Tuoba Xing to leave his private room and challenge him.
• Huang Xiao mocked Tuoba Xing and his retainers, while the retainers urged him to show respect to his superiors.
• Huang Xiao dismissed the Six Gates hierarchy, and Tuoba Xing warned him that he was only a reserve constable.
• Retainer Yu and the two other retainers shouted at Huang Xiao to demonstrate their loyalty to Tuoba Xing, and Huang Xiao applauded their display.

Huang Xiao gravely wounded Retainer Yu and two other retainers with a single sound-art shout, then confronted Tuoba Xing over their rivalry for the position of Arrest Sage. Tuoba Xing left without fighting, intending to settle matters during the contest.

• Retainer Yu and two other retainers stepped forward to seize Huang Xiao, while Tuoba Xing watched.
• Huang Xiao's furious shout gravely wounded the three retainers, leaving them bleeding and kneeling.
• A first-class constable kowtowed to Huang Xiao, who ordered him to remove the injured retainers; Tuoba Xing refused to defend them.
• Huang Xiao declared that he would compete with Tuoba Xing for the position of Arrest Sage and taunted him about their past fight.
• Tuoba Xing left the tavern, planning to kill Huang Xiao during the contest, and the spectators hurriedly dispersed.

Huang Xiao discussed Tuoba Xing’s growing strength with Zhao Xin'er and Du Ge after injuring three of Tuoba’s retainers, while rumors exaggerated what had happened at the Wine Shop. The next morning, Tuoba Xing went to meet Huang Qitao at the Six Gates headquarters, where Huang Qitao kept him waiting before finally looking up at him.

• Zhao Xin'er praised Huang Xiao for injuring three retainers, and Huang Xiao said he had spared them to avoid trouble with the Six Gates.
• Huang Xiao told Zhao Xin'er that Tuoba Xing’s martial power had improved, though he remained confident about the coming Arrest Sage contest.
• Du Ge repeated rumors that Huang Xiao and Tuoba Xing had fought, and Huang Xiao clarified that he had only injured the three retainers.
• Huang Xiao and Du Ge discussed Tuoba Xing’s strength and prepared for their contest in three days.
• Tuoba Xing arrived at the Six Gates headquarters and ignored the constables who greeted him, prompting resentment among them.
• Huang Qitao summoned Tuoba Xing, then made him wait in the study for an hour before looking up from his confidential reports.

Huang Qitao warned Tuoba Xing that Huang Xiao and powerful young rivals, including disciples of the Six Buddhist Sects, might compete for the Yellow Gate Arrest Sage position. Tuoba Xing remained confident, though Huang Qitao left him uncertain about the strength of the newcomers.

• Huang Qitao questioned Tuoba Xing’s claim to the Arrest Sage position and warned him that Huang Xiao had become a serious rival.
• Tuoba Xing dismissed Huang Xiao’s strength and insisted his years of training would let him defeat him.
• Huang Qitao asked how Tuoba Xing would fare against Liaochen and revealed that the Six Buddhist Sects had sent disciples into the world.
• Tuoba Xing learned that the Six Buddhist Sects had once rivaled Shaolin and vowed their disciples would not dominate the contest.
• Huang Qitao recounted how six disciples of the Six Sects had injured Liaochen, fought Huang Xiao, and were stopped only when the Beggar Gang Leader arrived.

Huang Xiao learned that disciples of the Six Buddhist Sects would compete for the position of Arrest Sage, alongside Tuoba Xing and others. After registering for the contest, he reviewed what little was known about the monks and prepared for the competition in two days.

• Huang Qitao told Tuoba Xing that the Six Buddhist Sects were entering the contest and urged him to prepare, while privately weighing how their involvement might affect his plans.
• Master Kongming informed Huang Xiao that disciples of the Six Buddhist Sects would compete for Arrest Sage, and Du Ge recognized that several monks had recently joined the Six Gates.
• Du Ge registered Huang Xiao for the contest in two days and agreed to investigate the monks’ records.
• Master Kongming explained that the Six Sects wanted to raise their standing in the Jianghu, and advised Huang Xiao to spare any opponent who did not try to kill him.
• Huang Xiao read Du Ge’s findings and learned the names Mingyi, Mingzhong, and Shanren, but found no useful information about their strength.

Huang Xiao entered the Yellow Gate Arrest Sage contest and learned that his only opponent was Mingzhong of the Pure Land Sect. When Huang Xiao asked why Tuoba Xing and the other candidates were absent, Perfected Huayang explained that they had failed to meet the minimum strength requirement, leaving Huang Xiao’s question about Tuoba Xing unresolved.

• Huang Xiao arrived at the Six Gates contest arena with Du Ge, but guards allowed only invited retainers and the contestants inside.
• Huang Xiao entered the courtyard, assessed the five Arrest Sages and five senior retainers, and greeted them.
• Mingzhong of the Pure Land Sect arrived, and Huang Qitao announced that he and Huang Xiao would compete for the Yellow Gate Arrest Sage position.
• Huang Xiao questioned why the other candidates, especially Tuoba Xing, were missing.
• Perfected Huayang said the other candidates had been disqualified for failing the minimum strength requirement, while Huang Xiao continued to question Tuoba Xing’s absence.

Huang Xiao faced Monk Mingzhong in the contest for the position of Arrest Sage, fighting without relying on the Heavenly Demon Skill. After their powerful palm techniques clashed, Huang Xiao unexpectedly changed his attack into a finger strike, catching Mingzhong off guard.

• Huang Qitao said Tuoba Xing had withdrawn because cultivation injuries had weakened him, and Huang Xiao accepted the explanation.
• Huang Xiao and Monk Mingzhong began their duel, with Huang Xiao cautious because he could not use the Heavenly Demon Skill without risking suspicion.
• Huang Xiao used his Lingbo Ethereal Steps to evade Mingzhong, then channeled his Northern Darkness True Qi through the Everlasting Spring Youth-Restoring Art.
• Huang Xiao's Blazing Yang Palm clashed with Mingzhong's Amitabha Palm, and Huang Xiao was forced to retreat but suffered no injury.
• Huang Xiao charged again and changed his palm strike into a finger strike against the center of Mingzhong's palm, startling the monk.

Huang Xiao fought Monk Mingzhong and learned that Mingzhong’s Infinite Buddha Palm grew stronger with each strike. Despite warnings that he could be seriously injured, Huang Xiao refused to concede and revealed that he still had a trump card.

• Huang Xiao struck Mingzhong’s palm with Heart-Severing Finger, then Mingzhong unleashed a powerful palm technique that sent Huang Xiao staggering back with blood at his mouth.
• Master Jueyi identified the technique as the Infinite Buddha Palm and explained that each successive strike doubled in power; Mingzhong said he could barely manage a third strike and warned Huang Xiao to stop.
• Huang Xiao refused to concede despite Master Jueyi and Perfected Huayang urging him to withdraw, while Huang Qitao encouraged him to persist.
• Huang Xiao told Mingzhong that he had a trump card and said it was time to decide the victor, leaving Master Jueyi and Perfected Huayang surprised.

Huang Xiao used the Heavenly Demon Subduing Tiger Fist to withstand Monk Mingzhong’s third Infinite Buddha Palm and win their contest. He left Mingzhong injured but treated him before accepting his concession.

• Huang Xiao revealed a powerful fist technique and met Monk Mingzhong’s second palm strike with the third layer of the Heavenly Demon Subduing Tiger Fist, matching its force.
• Monk Mingzhong risked severe injury to unleash his third palm strike, and Huang Xiao countered with the fist’s fourth layer of force.
• Huang Xiao outlasted Mingzhong’s palm force, then softened his attack and struck Mingzhong’s chest to treat the backlash.
• Monk Mingzhong recovered enough to stand, conceded to Huang Xiao, and thanked him for showing mercy.

Huang Xiao was appointed the new Yellow Gate Arrest Sage after defeating Monk Mingzhong, and he aligned himself with the Imperial Court. He left the training grounds with You Yidao and Zheng Zhiyi as the watching constables greeted him in his new position.

• Monk Mingzhong accepted his defeat, bowed to Huang Xiao, and left the arena with injuries that would take weeks to heal.
• Huang Qitao announced Huang Xiao’s promotion to Yellow Gate Arrest Sage, and the Retainers agreed.
• Huang Qitao and two allied Arrest Sages departed, while You Yidao and Zheng Zhiyi congratulated Huang Xiao and called him their brother.
• Huang Xiao inferred that Zheng Zhiyi was choosing to align with the Imperial Court and accepted You Yidao’s invitation to celebrate.
• You Yidao prompted the constables to pay their respects to Huang Xiao, and they congratulated him as their new lord.

After Huang Xiao became the Yellow Gate’s new Arrest Sage, You Yidao and Zheng Zhiyi took him to the Immortal Abode to celebrate and treated him as a close ally. They settled for Master Hao’s eldest disciple to cook after learning the elderly chef could no longer prepare a meal himself.

• Huang Xiao left with You Yidao and Zheng Zhiyi, while Du Ge accepted congratulations from the constables who believed Huang Xiao had defeated Tuoba Xing.
• You Yidao and Zheng Zhiyi brought Huang Xiao to the Immortal Abode and explained that Master Hao was a famed retired imperial chef.
• You Yidao asked the manager, Old Man Zhu, to have Master Hao cook for them, but Old Man Zhu said the eighty-year-old chef had not cooked in over half a year.
• Huang Xiao and Zheng Zhiyi persuaded You Yidao to accept a meal prepared by Master Hao’s eldest disciple, and You Yidao agreed for Huang Xiao’s sake.

Huang Xiao, You Yidao, and Zheng Zhiyi witnessed the Tuoba Family’s Third Young Master harassing Xiao Qin at the Immortal Abode. Huang Xiao struck the Third Young Master and demanded that he apologize and slap himself a hundred times.

• Old Zhu heard a commotion and joined Huang Xiao, You Yidao, and Zheng Zhiyi as they went to investigate.
• Old Zhu tried to protect Xiao Qin from the Third Young Master, who insisted on taking her away and ordered his men to seize her.
• The Third Young Master’s men refused to fight and tried to leave, but Old Zhu ordered the restaurant guards to subdue them.
• The Third Young Master pushed past the guards and threatened to take Xiao Qin, so Huang Xiao slapped him and sent him flying.
• Huang Xiao demanded that the Third Young Master apologize to Xiao Qin and slap himself a hundred times or face further punishment.

Huang Xiao punished the third young master for bullying Liu Qin and revealed himself as an Arrest Sage of the Six Gates. As the third young master was forced to apologize, his eldest brother arrived with another young man.

• Huang Xiao slapped the third young master and ordered him to slap himself a hundred times, while You Yidao and Zheng Zhiyi revealed that Huang Xiao was an Arrest Sage too.
• Huang Xiao delivered the hundred slaps, forced the third young master to kneel, and called Liu Qin forward to receive an apology.
• Huang Xiao recognized Liu Qin as the daughter of Liu Qiang, the chief of the mountain stronghold where he had once been held, and reassured her that no one would bully her.
• The third young master resisted apologizing until an angry voice rebuked him; his eldest brother then arrived with another young man, while Huang Xiao kept the third young master pinned down.

Huang Xiao intervened when Tuoba Defu harassed Xiaoqin, and Tuoba Dezheng disciplined his younger brother after learning Huang Xiao was an Arrest Sage. The chapter ended with Tuoba Dezheng rewarding Xiaoqin and inviting Huang Xiao to meet again, while Huang Xiao remained wary of his intentions.

• Tuoba Dezheng identified Huang Xiao as an Arrest Sage and ordered Tuoba Defu to apologize to Xiaoqin.
• Huang Xiao healed Xiaoqin's swollen cheek, and Master Hu and Xiaoqin's young husband arrived.
• Tuoba Dezheng revealed that he was a Commandery Prince and confined Tuoba Defu to his residence without permission to leave.
• Huang Xiao warned Tuoba Dezheng that he would deal with Tuoba Defu himself if he harmed anyone again.
• Tuoba Dezheng moved Xiaoqin to the accounts office, raised her wages, and promised her a thousand taels of silver.

Huang Xiao reunited with Xiao Qin, learned that she and her father were the only survivors of their village, and promised to help avenge the villagers killed by the Wang Family. Back with You Yidao and Zheng Zhiyi, he asked whether Tuoba Dezheng was connected to the Tuoba Family of Lin'an.

• Tuoba Dezheng rewarded Xiao Qin because of her connection to Huang Xiao, and Huang Xiao reassured her husband that she was family to him.
• Huang Xiao asked Xiao Qin about the village survivors, and she explained how she and her father had endured the past two years before she married Hu Fan.
• Huang Xiao promised to visit Xiao Qin's father and help with the Wang Family, then returned to You Yidao and Zheng Zhiyi.
• Huang Xiao asked who Tuoba Dezheng really was, and Zheng Zhiyi guessed that he wanted to know whether the prince belonged to the Tuoba Family of Lin'an.

Huang Xiao learned that Tuoba Dezheng's family and Tuoba Xing's family were separate branches of the same ancestral Tuoba Family, and that Crown Prince Zhao Yuankan had accompanied Tuoba Dezheng. After celebrating Huang Xiao's new Arrest Sage position, Du Ge heard why Tuoba Xing had missed the contest, while Tuoba Xing raged over Huang Xiao's victory and wondered what he could do next.

• You Yidao explained that Tuoba Dezheng's and Tuoba Xing's families had split from the original Tuoba Family and had little contact, and Zheng Zhiyi identified the man beside Tuoba Dezheng as Crown Prince Zhao Yuankan.
• Master Hao thanked Huang Xiao for protecting Xiao Qin and served dishes he had cooked himself.
• Du Ge congratulated Huang Xiao on becoming an Arrest Sage, then told him that people were questioning the legitimacy of his victory because Tuoba Xing had not competed.
• Huang Xiao told Du Ge that Tuoba Xing had injured his meridians while training and could not attend the contest.
• Tuoba Xing smashed his study in anger over Huang Xiao becoming an Arrest Sage and demanded to know what he could do about him.

Tuoba Xing accepted his new Inspector post as a chance to expand his influence and target Huang Xiao, while Huang Xiao struggled with the duties of being an Arrest Sage. The chapter ended when Du Ge told Huang Xiao that Tuoba Xing had been appointed Inspector.

• Tuoba Xing resented Huang Xiao's rise to Arrest Sage and asked Old He how he compared with Mingzhong, then decided to keep advancing his martial power rather than consolidate his cultivation.
• Old He explained that Tuoba Xing's Inspector authority let him inspect Six Gates branches and replace personnel, and Tuoba Xing resolved to use it against Huang Xiao's allies.
• Huang Xiao arrived at the Six Gates and was overwhelmed by the documents awaiting his review, realizing that his new role came with substantial duties.
• Huang Xiao decided to seek advice from You Yidao and Zheng Zhiyi, but Du Ge arrived and informed him that Tuoba Xing had become Inspector.